Bucks, Knicks, Nets win in Boston

Kyrie Irving has already changed his mind about committing to the Celtics, so what he decides in free agency this summer — at this juncture — is anybody’s guess.

But logic would indicate that the longer the Celtics stay in the playoffs, the more likely Irving stays in Boston. In other words, the Knicks and Nets are rooting for the Milwaukee Bucks.

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So Friday night was good for New York basketball, as the Celtics lost 123-116 to the Bucks and gave up home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Irving was solid with 27 points on 7-for-20 shooting, but Giannis Antetokounmpo (32 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks) was better. Much of the game was a free-throw fest, and it got ugly with Antetokounmpo going to the line 22 times. “Shot 22 on the game. I mean, it’s getting ridiculous at this point. It’s just slowing the f***ing game down,” Irving complained, though he wasn’t wrong.

But the bottom line is the fourth-seeded Celtics are trailing No. 1 Milwaukee in the series, 2-1. Game 4 on Monday could be Irving’s defining moment in Boston.

Giannis and the Bucks have pushed the Celtics to the brink. (Maddie Meyer/Getty)

There may be a lot at stake in this series for the Knicks, in particular, because of continued rumblings that Kevin Durant will only join if accompanied by another proven star. Many believe that’ll be Irving, but it would be hard to imagine the point guard giving the extra $40 million he’d earn in Boston and turning down a team that he took the conference finals.

Then again, Irving demanded a trade out of Cleveland following three consecutive trips to the Finals. So we’ll see. Some plugged-in to the NBA claim Irving will strongly consider Brooklyn as a free-agent destination, with one source saying the 27-year-old prefers the Nets to the Knicks.

Regardless of what happens in the summer, the Celtics are blowing this series. The deepest team in the Eastern Conference followed up their 21-point loss in Game 2 with a seven-point defeat in Game 3 that didn’t feel close. The Bucks went on a 12-0 run late in the third quarter to take an 11-point advantage and never looked back.